Alps – Digital Steak

An experience climbing the Cassin on Piz Badile

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 12:04:57 +0000

The grin on my face is reflected in Waldo’s as he makes the last moves onto the belay. We have been climbing for 5 hours with a few more to go but the rock is simply stunning and neither of us want it to end. We didn’t know each other 48 hours ago but a...

Finding my flow

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 06:54:17 +0000

As I was cruising up yet another stunning crack splitting a 300m granite face up high off the Aiguille du Midi, I felt truly in my element. Recent life events have really knocked my mental strength and the first thing to suffer is my ability to climb, or at least feel comfortable climbing. My recent...

True grit at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail – part 2

Charley Radcliffe — Sat, 09 Jul 2016 06:33:43 +0000

As Mike left the first aid station, to say I was worried, is an understatement. Here he was, 33km into the 119km of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail and he was suffering from food poisoning – I was unable to even get off the sofa when I had something similar yet here he was, with 86km to...

True grit at the Lavaredo Ultra Trail – part 1

Charley Radcliffe — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 06:55:49 +0000

We’re 103km into the enormous 119km of the Lavaredo Ultra Trail and Mike Foote crosses the brow of a hill with Rory Bosio and they jog their way into the last aid station. They both smile. It is clear they are still suffering but somehow they are both still smiling, both still cracking jokes, and both...

Cortina Skyrace 2016 – Race Report

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 27 Jun 2016 07:21:22 +0000

Fighting to fill my lungs, the magnitude of what I had let myself in for started to hit home. We were barely 2.5km into the 20km of the Cortina Skyrace and we were only just reaching the first climb. How was I suffering so much already? The Lavaredo Ultra Trail The Lavaredo Ultra-Trail is based in...

Preparing for the Cortina Skyrace

Charley Radcliffe — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 06:26:57 +0000

My last long run is done and the race is just around the corner. My legs feel strong and my mind is psyched to get started now. I’ve wanted to return to Cortina since discovering this beautiful alpine town last year while climbing the classic Tre Cime di Lavaredo. Now I’m heading back on Wednesday...

Kettlebell classes in Chamonix – The Mountain Foundry grows!

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 12 May 2016 11:44:45 +0000

It’s only 10 minutes until my first kettlebell class in Chamonix and there are already over 10 people here – not bad for a debut! Fine, the class is free and the weather is glorious but, hey, I’m thinking this is a win! Growing The Mountain Foundry in Chamonix It was just 12 months ago...

An Interview with David Goettler

Charley Radcliffe — Sat, 30 Apr 2016 15:34:52 +0000

David Göttler is an IFMGA mountain guide and professional athlete who splits his time between Spain and Chamonix, France. He has been on a massive 31 expeditions and is currently camped out at the South Face of Shisha Pangma with Ueli Steck, waiting for a weather window to attempt a bold new route. He kindly took...

Because it is there. For now.

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 10:37:06 +0000

When asked why he wanted to climb Everest, George Mallory famously replied “Because it is there.” There is something undeniably attractive about scaling both massive peaks in the Greater Ranges and more humble hills in the British Isles. Sadly, the question now seems to be, “But for how much longer?” When Climate Change can’t be...

.. and then I get spanked – climbing the Supercouloir

Charley Radcliffe — Thu, 24 Mar 2016 15:03:25 +0000

Yep, after going on about feeling stronger and the benefits to being stronger in the mountains, I headed out and got firmly put back in my place. And it’s not a bad thing at all. I headed up to climb a stunning but very challenging route here in Chamonix, the Supercouloir, with Graeme – mentally,...